In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
How many people, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, reached out to touch the hem of the Lord’s garment? How many countless persons—men, women and children—must have reached out just to touch His clothing! And each received a blessing, each had an encounter with the divine, each touched God. We do not, either, know their motives, their desires, their intentions, but Christ did. And to each he grants what is good for their salvation.
Christ had withdrawn, crossed the sea with his disciples to the land of the Gadarenes (Luke 8:26–39) and released the man from captivity to demons, “clothed and in his right mind.” (verse 35) Now He returns across the lake, to Capernaum which is the centre of His ministry in Galilee, and a man falls before Him. And he should fall before Him—He is the Christ, the Son of the living God—but he comes as a last gasp for his daughter. And the Lord hears him, though he comes as to a healer and not the Son of God, the Lord hears him. And He hears us.
But the Lord wishes to reveal to Jairus and to the disciples more of who He is. “Who was it that touched me?” And to us this is a ridiculous question, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” Those countless people who had touched the Lord before had never been called out, but this was different. And an unclean woman came forward. She was at the fringes of society, ritually unclean for twelve years, and had none of the advantages of Jairus nor his daughter. She was an outcast, a pariah, but the Lord chose her to show what faithfulness is, what power he has, so that when news of the Jairus’s daughter’s death comes all may still have faith. “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
And he says the same to me. I come before the Lord not as a first instinct but a last resort, and I fall before him and entreat that he act as I demand. And he allows me to see great faithfulness so that I may be encouraged, “Do not fear; only believe,” says the Lord. And I see only danger before me, and He says to me, “Do not fear; only believe.” And I panic about the future, and He says to me, “Do not fear; only believe.” And I worry about money, about resources, about potential outcomes and He says to me, “Do not fear; only believe.”
“Believe in Me,” says the Lord, “and I will do for you what is necessary, Believe in Me and I will remove all fear, Believe in Me and I will raise you up from the dead and to new Life, eternal Life, with Me. Believe in Me and you will transcend this existence and be truly alive.” And the woman who had had the flow of blood, an exile from the people, becomes my example of holiness. I am not to be as one who can walk right up to the Lord and demand he come to my house, but as the one who only wanted to touch the hem of his garment to be made well.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us lay aside all the cares of this life, lay aside fear which strikes against us, and we too will receive the King of All. Whatever our state, rich or poor, good health or bad, we may come before the Lord and He will grant to us what is necessary that we may be drawn to Him, abide with Him and receive eternal Life.
That we may offer to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ true glory, honour and worship, together with His unoriginate Father and the All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit. Amen.
Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
— Second Corinthians 9:6–11
At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” But Jesus said, “Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
— Luke 8:41–56